Sign positioning and changing device

ABSTRACT

A sign positioning and changing device is provided that positions a sign at any desired height, suspending the sign from a cord that is retractable into a housing mounted on or near the ceiling and which is lowerable to the floor for ease of changing the sign, and which when released at any desired height will stop and remain at that height. Preferably, the device includes two such cords, both of which are retractable into the housing at points spaced from one another. The mechanism for retracting the cord is a spring loaded retrieving device of the type that loads a coil spring when line is withdrawn from a spool within the device and uses the energy stored in the spring to retrieve the cord. In particular, the type of retriever used in the present invention is the type that permits retrieval of the cord at a slow steady speed, but stops retrieval and latches the spool when the rate of retrieval exceeds a certain predetermined speed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for positioning and changing a sign, and more particularly, to a system for gaining easy access to a sign in a retail setting for the purpose of changing the sign and then allowing the sign to be positioned at any desired height between the floor and ceiling of the retail store.

[0002] In a retail setting, it is highly desirable to be able to use in-store signage to draw attention to special sale items, or to coordinate with other targeted promotional campaigns, such as flyers, posters, and electronic or print media advertising campaigns. In order to take full advantage of in-store marketing opportunities, it is necessary to change in-store signage very frequently. Also, it is highly desirable to be able to position these signs at any desired height above the floor of the retail space because different sizes of signs might be used from time to time, as well as signs featuring different layouts, i.e., portrait or landscape layout.

[0003] In order to accomplish these desirable results, store managers have been troubled by high labor costs of a crew of workers using ladders in a store to reach and change signs. Also, use of ladders is inherently dangerous for the workers and can be very awkward to handle around glass display cases and the like. In addition, if the signs need to be changed during store hours, the ladders and workers can be disruptive and annoying to the store's customers.

[0004] To address these concerns, systems have been developed to facilitate frequent changing of in-store signage. One such system is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,529, 274 to Anderson, et al. In the Anderson system, a sign is suspended by two cords, one attached to the ceiling of a retail space, and the other being retractable by a motor-driven drum, also attached to the ceiling. The cord passes through two pulleys on a sign carrier. A remote control device is used to operate the motor driving the retracting drum. With this arrangement, the sign can be lowered to the floor for ease of changing the sign without need of a ladder, and then the sign can be raised by action of the motor-driven drum to any desired height above the floor. While the Anderson system appears to achieve the desired result, it is very complicated and expensive. The Anderson system requires electrical power to operate and includes an electric motor, motor control circuitry, a remote control device and its associated circuitry. Also, while the two pulley system on the sign carrier is said to be “self-balancing,” it is unclear whether this would function to keep the sign level after it is raised above the store floor by retracting the cord on only one side of the sign.

[0005] When one considers that a large retail store might want to use a hundred or more of these devices to give them flexibility in their in-store marketing plans, one recognizes that the cost of so many motorized drums and their associated remote controls is excessive and impractical. To drive down the cost of an in-store signage system while maintaining the desired convenience, some store operators have suspended signs from spring loaded cord retractors attached to the ceiling. These retractors have been of the type that loads a coil spring as the cord is retracted from the spool and uses the energy stored in the spring to retrieve the cord by driving the spool in the reverse direction. This is the same sort of mechanism that is used, for example, in a roll-up window shade. If the shade is raised slowly and stopped, a catch will be deployed to hold the shade in the desired position. However, if the shade is released while being raised, it will wind rapidly all the way to the top.

[0006] While this may be annoying for someone who is adjusting a window shade, it has proved to be commercially unacceptable for a sign hanging device. In many retail environments, such as the popular warehouse-style club store or a typical home improvement center, and even in many modem traditional retail environments, the ceilings may be very high, reaching to thirty feet, or more. If in these environments, an in-store marketing sign were inadvertently raised all the way to the ceiling, it would be extremely inconvenient, disruptive, and expensive to retrieve it. In order to overcome this problem, it would be highly desirable to have a spring actuated hanging device that would be spring biased to raise a sign, but would not permit the sign to be raised all the way to the ceiling if the sign were inadvertently released.

[0007] Spring loaded cord, cable, or strap retractors exist that are intended to allow withdrawal of the cord, cable, or strap at a relatively slow, steady speed but to lock and prevent further withdrawal when the rate of withdrawal exceeds a certain predetermined speed. A common example is the device that retracts a seat belt in cars. This device retracts the seat belt strap into a housing so that it is stored neatly and conveniently. When the seat belt is required for use, it can be withdrawn from the housing by hand at a relatively slow rate. However, if the strap is withdrawn from the housing at a rapid rate, as would occur in an accident, the device locks the strap and prevents further withdrawal in order to hold the passenger safely.

[0008] Other similar devices are fall-arrest safety devices such as those shown U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,976 to Ostrobrod and U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,280 to Feathers. Those devices are intended to be attached above a person working at great height such as a window washer or a building construction worker. The cable is attached to a harness on the worker. Slow pay-out of the cable is permitted to allow the worker to perform his normal work duties, but the device locks and prevents further pay-out of the cable in response to excessive pay-out speed, as would occur if the worker began to fall.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a novel sign positioning and changing apparatus that overcomes the problems experienced with prior devices.

[0010] A primary object of the invention is to provide a sign positioning and changing device that is effective and efficient in operation and is relative inexpensive to manufacture.

[0011] Another object of the invention is to provide a sign positioning device that is reliable in operation and will not inadvertently raise a sign to an extreme height that might be difficult to reach from the floor without the aid of a ladder or other high lift device.

[0012] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a sign hanging device that suspends a sign from more than one cord in order to provide directional control and stability of the sign.

[0013] These and other objects of the invention are achieved by providing a sign positioning and changing device that positions a sign at any desired height, suspending the sign from a cord which is retractable into a housing mounted on or near the ceiling and which is lowerable to the floor for ease of changing the sign, and which when released at any height will stop and remain at that height. Preferably, the device includes two such cords, both of which are retractable into the housing at points spaced from one another. The mechanism for retracting the cord is a spring loaded retrieving device of the type that loads a coil spring when line is withdrawn from a spool within the device and uses the energy stored in the spring to retrieve the cord. In particular, the type of retriever used in the present invention is the type that permits retrieval of the cord at a slow steady speed, but stops retrieval and latches the spool when the rate of retrieval exceeds a certain predetermined speed.

[0014] With this arrangement, sufficient cord can be withdrawn from the device to allow a sign to be lowered to the floor of a room to allow a worker to modify or replace the sign. The worker can then raise the sign to any desired height by allowing the retriever to draw cord back into the housing. When the desired height is reached, the worker simply releases the sign, and as the retriever begins to retrieve the sign too quickly, the device stops retrieval, and the sign remains at the desired height. Preferably, the device includes a sign hanging bracket suspended by the two cords that are retractable into the housing, and the bracket in turn has three contact points, two of which are spaced far apart from one another and are used to support lines running to the sign. The third contact point is centrally located and is used by the operator to position the bracket at the desired height.

[0015] These and other aspects of the invention will be more apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The present invention is illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar parts, and in which:

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sign positioning and changing device of the present invention showing the sign lowered to a position near the floor so a user can modify or replace the sign;

[0018]FIG. 2 is a perspective view, similar to FIG. 1, but showing the sign raised by a user to a desired display height;

[0019]FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view, similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, showing the sign in its display position; and

[0020]FIG. 4 is a further enlarged elevational view of the sign positioning and changing device of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] A sign positioning and changing device is generally shown at 10 in FIG. 1 and is comprised of a generally cylindrical housing 12 secured to a mounting base 14 by a flange 16 formed on the base 14. Any suitable clips or fasteners 18 can be used to secure the base 14 to a ceiling or rafter member 20.

[0022] In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, a pair of cords 22 and 24 extends downwardly from the housing 12. The cords 22 and 24 are wound on a pair of spools (not shown) within the housing 12, and the spools are spring biased in a conventional way to draw the cords 22 and 24 into the housing 12. Preferably, the cords 22 and 24 are wound in opposite directions around their respective spools, and the spools are arranged to counter rotate with respect to each other, so that the cords 22 and 24 can be taken off of the spools tangentially downwardly and be spaced horizontally from one another as far as the limitation of the size of the housing 12 will allow.

[0023] The cords 22 and 24 extend downwardly to a sign hanging bracket, indicated generally at 26, which bracket is in turn comprised of a coupling section 28 and a handle 30. The cords 22 and 24 are attached to the coupling section 28 at their lower ends, and the handle 30 is also attached to the coupling section 28. The handle 30 can be constructed of molded plastic or of a heavy wire material and formed to any desired shape. As illustrated in the FIGS., the handle 30 is formed with three downwardly directed contact points, two lateral contact points 32 and 34, and a central contact point 36. Preferably, the lateral contact points 32 and 34 are spaced laterally apart at least as far as the laterally spaced cords 22 and 24.

[0024] In FIG. 1, the sign positioning and changing device 10 is shown in its lowered position in which the sign hanging bracket 26 is lowered to or near the floor of the room in which the device is being used so that a sign 38 can be installed or modified by a user 40. To suspend the sign 38 from the handle 30, a pair of rods or cords 42 and 44 extends from the lateral points 32 and 34 of the handle 30 and are preferably attached to the sign 38 near the upper comers of the sign 38. This arrangement requires that the sign 38 be constructed of a material that is sufficiently stiff to maintain its shape when hanging in this manner, or alternatively, the sign 38 can include a rigid top edge 46 to which the rods or cords 42 and 44 are attached.

[0025] Operation of the device 10 is best illustrated in FIG. 2. After the sign 38 has been attached to the bracket 26, the user 40 with the aid of a pole 48 can raise the bracket to any desired height. The pole 48 is equipped with a hook 50 that can engage the central contact point 36 of the handle 30, and the pole 48 is of sufficient length to allow the user 40 to raise the sign 38 to any desired height above the floor.

[0026] When the user 40 has raised the sign 38 to the desired height, he simply releases the sign by moving the pole 48 upwardly in a rapid motion, and the device 10 will stop retraction of the cords 22 and 24 and hold the sign in its desired position. With this arrangement, inadvertent release of the sign can never cause the sign to raise all the way to the ceiling where it would be very difficult to retrieve.

[0027] As can best be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cords 22 and 24 descend from the housing 12 adjacent opposite sides of the generally cylindrical housing, thereby providing maximum lateral spacing between the cords 22 and 24. This arrangement provides stability for the sign 38 by resisting the tendency of the sign to twist with any air currents that may be present in the store. For further stability, the lateral contact points 32 and 34 are spaced apart, preferably at least as far as the cords 22 and 24, to further resist twisting of the sign 38. As an added advantage, the flange 16 may be mounted on a rotating portion 52 of the base 14 that is arranged to rotate with respect to the base so that the device 10 can be positioned at any desired angle with respect to the ceiling or rafter member 20. This allows the sign 38 to be oriented correctly with respect to aisles or displays in the store without regard to the orientation of the rafters.

[0028] Various modifications and changes may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments of the present invention have been set forth only for the purpose of example, and that they should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined in the following claims.

[0029] The words used in this specification to describe the present invention are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition, structure, material, or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material, or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result.

[0030] In addition to the equivalents of the claimed elements, obvious substitutions now or later known to one of ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

[0031] The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted, and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus for positioning and changing signs suspended from the ceiling, said apparatus comprising: a housing mounted to said ceiling, said housing containing at least one spring actuated spool; a cord wound on said spool and descending from said housing to suspend said sign, said cord being lowerable to the floor for ease of changing said sign, and said cord being raisable to any height above said floor; and means responsive to release of said sign at any desired height for retaining said sign at said desired height.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said housing contains two spring actuated spools, each of said spools having a cord wound on said spool and descending from said housing to suspend said sign.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said spools are mounted in said housing for counter rotation with one another and said cords are wound on said spools in opposite directions from one another, whereby said cords descend tangentially from said spools adjacent opposite sides of said housing, and are thereby laterally spaced apart.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 further including a bracket supported by said two cords, said bracket having lateral contact points spaced apart for hanging said sign.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said lateral contact points are spaced at least as far apart as said cords.
 6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said housing includes a rotating portion to permit rotational orientation of said cords with respect to said ceiling to achieve directional orientation of said sign.
 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said bracket includes a third contact point to facilitate positioning of said sign when said sign is attached to said bracket.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said third contact point is centrally located with respect to said bracket and is positioned generally between said lateral contact points.
 9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said third contact point is adapted to receive a positioning actuator for positioning said sign at any desired height.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said positioning actuator is a pole with a hook at one end, and said third contact point is adapted to receive said hook.
 11. An apparatus for positioning and changing signs suspended from the ceiling, said apparatus comprising: a base secured to said ceiling; a generally cylindrical housing mounted on said base and having two spring actuated spools mounted in said housing for counter rotation with respect to one another, each having a cord wound thereon, whereby said cords descend tangentially from said spools laterally spaced from one another on opposite sides of said housing; a bracket suspended by said cords, said bracket having means for attaching to the lower ends of said cords, means for attaching to and suspending said sign, and means for receiving a positioning actuator for positioning said sign at any desired height; and means in said housing for permitting lowering of said cords and bracket to the floor for changing said sign, and for permitting raising of said sign to any desired height above the floor, said means being responsive to release of said sign at any desired height to retain said sign at said desired height.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means on said bracket for attaching to and suspending said sign is a pair of laterally spaced contact points that are spaced apart laterally at least as far apart as the laterally spaced cords.
 13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said positioning actuator is a pole with a hook on one end, and said means for receiving said positioning actuator is a centrally located contact point adapted to be contacted by said hook.
 14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said housing is rotatably secured to said base to permit rotational orientation of the plane of said said cords with respect to said ceiling in order to achieve directional orientation of said sign. 